Tao Te Ching Ch.19: Return to the Uncarved (少私寡欲)

绝jué圣shèng弃qì智zhì，民mín利lì百bǎi倍bèi；绝jué仁rén弃qì义yì，民mín复fù孝xiào慈cí；绝jué巧qiǎo弃qì利lì，盗dào贼zéi无wú有yǒu；此cǐ三sān者zhě以yǐ为wéi文wén不bù足zú。

1If we could renounce our sageness and discard our wisdom, it would be better for the people a hundredfold.

2If we could renounce our benevolence and discard our righteousness, the people would again become filial and kindly.

3If we could renounce our artful contrivances and discard our (scheming for) gain, there would be no thieves nor robbers.

故gù令lìng有yǒu所suǒ属shǔ，见xiàn素sù抱bào朴pǔ，少shǎo私sī寡guǎ欲yù，绝jué学xué无wú忧yōu。

4Those three methods (of government) Thought olden ways in elegance did fail And made these names their want of worth to veil; But simple views, and courses plain and true Would selfish ends and many lusts eschew.